Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round up of today’s news.
#CANNES: Actress Cate Blanchett has shot down speculation that she has a real-life gay past.
#SOUTH AFRICA: The mother of Reeva Steemkamp has said that an August release for good behaviour for Oscar Pistorius would be too soon.
#UK: Thomas Cook has apologised to the parents of children killed by a faulty boiler while on holiday in Corfu.
#UNITED STATES: A US politician has admitted to a plot to burn down a Muslim community in New York.
Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, has said that Steve Jobs’ vision for the company to change the world has come true, thanks to iPhone cameras allowing people to capture the world’s injustices. [The Guardian]
An Armenian taxi driver has become a viral hit after giving an impromtu speech about, strangely enough, transport regulation. [BBC]
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
And…it shouldn’t be left up overnight. There are quite a few State bodies that fly the tricolour but don’t remember to drop it at sunset.
It can be flown at night if illuminated, which very rarely happens. This shouldn’t meant that the flag is NEVER lowered, which happens all too often. Clery’s should be ashamed of the flags they have atop their building.
That’s very interesting lads, I never copped that about Clerys before. Maybe they might start to get it right after this.
Flag up at sunrise and down at sunset. If you’re passing the US embassy at either time, you can see the Marines doing that.
Not sure if that’s quite right Fergal. Sunset and a Sunrise are defined in the protocol. I agree about Clerys though. You’d think an institution as old as that would know better.
Right and should never touch the ground, and shouldn’t be all ratty, if it’s torn and shredded, it should be replaced, and that’s the only time it should be burned.
Any one remember many years ago when Linkin Park stood on the Irish flag by accident and got bottled by the crowd?
That time they opened for Metallica? Did they not just get bottled for being shite?
Yeah thats the one. I think standing on the flag was the go ahead for the crowd to bottle them for being shite. They were a terrible supporting act.
I could of been given 100 guesses as to what a thread that would come up on the comments section of this article would be, but by god I would not have guessed Linkin Park
Don’t turn it upside down or it becomes the Ivory Coast flag.
That’s when the prods will burn it
Can someone confirm, did David gray (or grey) the singer burn a tricolour before on stage? I remember someone telling me this
I thought it was Lost Prophets who got bottled at a Metallica gig? Or is it another one prior to 2004?
The tricolor will be a collectors item in a few years take a look at most schools round the country 3 flag poles outside most will have an enviromental flag and a big dirty EU flag up and no tricolor at all. I asked my kids principal why our school doesnt have a tricolor and he just laughed at me. I asked was the EU flag some form of indoctrination for the kids he just laughed at me. I offered him a tricolor and he refused.
Theres no respect for our flag anymore. I owe no loyalty to a blue rag & stars on it.
Well then if you have no respect for the EU don’t drive on any of the motorways built between 1998 and 2012 as they were all 85% funded by the EU. Irish people don’t realise how good they have it sometimes! The EU paying to bail out proxy banks out! Could you imagine the state we would be in without them and the mountain of debt or stupid government had build up on the back of the wa@&€r bankers! You should join ukip cos that’s who you sound like!!
First unfurled on Irish soil in 1848 at 33 the Mall in Waterford city
Is it okay to burn the Irish flag? As happens at 90÷ of loyalist bonfires across the North yet nothing is said from authorities, southern media or the Irish government?
Caplan
No it is not, it is not right to burn ant nations flag. Problem is burning of flags normally takes place during didturbances/riots and any move on the burners could aggravate the situation.
Aics
Sorry Caolan bloody auto correct and other spelling errors
You only feel outraged about that because of the culture you’ve been raised in. The respect we place on coloured pieces of cloth is arbitrary.
It’s perfectly okay to burn the flag as a symbol of protest. Well, legal anyway.
It should be illegal to disrespect the flag. Knobs that write on it really ought to be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
It’s not arbitary and the respect is for the symbolism of the green, white and orange.
Flag burning is freedom of expression.
If you ever go to Florida and see a car around the Orlando area with reg plate IRE1916, give me a wave :)
Fair enough, I was on the Hill the day they burnt the Union Jack. One of the maddest things I’ve seen on the Hill.
Must burn the EU flag one day at a demo and lets see what happens.
And if ever in Chicago and see one that says EYERISH, give me a wave
It’s funny how a third of the flag they burn, is a symbol for themselves
Acknowledging flag-burners or banning it will just make it more prevalent. Just sit back and think how stupid it is loyalists burning the orange section. Also, at some point they had to spend money on an Irish flag. I’d feel like a right knob buying a union jack. They’re to be pitied.
We should all fly our flag outside our houses like the way our american cousins do…
We need to have something to be proud of first though
We could, if we aspired to be like ignorant rednecks in the US. Or copy a significant number of loyalists/unionists in Northern Ireland in feeling so insecure about our identity we feel the need to fly flags from our homes.
The worst handling of the Irish flag was during the Queen’s visit, the Garda threw Irish flags into a wast truck that they had taken from people.
Does not give the correct way to fold the flag
Like most European nations there is no correct way to fold the flag unlike the US. The flag is in fact rolled when it is to be “cracked out” as part of a salute, and does not open out until top of the post and the salute is made.
Actually, there is a specified way to fold the national flag such the the green and orange is always separated by the white portion
But that’s part of the flags design or not
Steve …. There is a specific way to fold our national flag and it is written in law
If it is flown by a state rep it also requires a six man group to do correctly
My father as a officer to the state had the responsibility of hoisting it every day and securely storing it at night
Also it should never touch the ground, be draped in water or through trees or dirt , should never be defaced (written on for sporting events) should never be hung on a vehicle unless presented as a represention of state
There is so much more and I think you should research
Pat,
I’m aware of all this and it’s the same with most national flags.
I was referring to the folding in answer to someone’s question as said as far as I am aware there is no regulation regarding folding other than with respect and not touching ground etc. if I’m wrong then apologies if anyone is upset.
Pat,
See my answer immediately below and to Conor who described the method of folding. Thanks
When I was I scouts, we always folded it in triangular sections. It’s a lot cleaner than the apparent official method, which is in rectangular sections.
Green and orange should not touch when folded.
Really Stuart? Again that’s very interesting.. loving this comments section
Yes Jamie,it’s plastered all over the comments section,
It’s a shame people don’t put tricolours outside their homes. As one poster said there seems to be more EU flags around than our national flag on public buildings which is a disgrace. It’s not the flag that is the problem but us….we have not yet lived up to the ideals the flag represents
“It’s a shame people don’t put tricolours outside their homes.”
Council houses do during the World Cup.
Don’t worry. That’s not the case at alt :) And they are quite particular about it have it in the right position in Brussels too :)
It should be a Golden harp and a green background
It’s just a piece of material with three colours on it. It’s not a symbol of who I am.
Well then if you dont like it here move out
It’s more of an optimistic symbol of one of the things we should strive to be. A non-sectarian society. It may have been a much bigger problem in days gone past, but what true Irish citizen doesn’t want an Ireland without fear or bigotry? That’s what the flag means. It actually has a lot of United Ireland overtones that are probably inappropriate in today’s world but it’s still a good ideal to strive for.
You are right jonnie baxter….. It will never be anything to you ….. Thank god
Sean
Don’t know so much about it being inappropriate nowadays. Think it’s still something worth striving for, peacefully of course
I’m far from a Unionist, I’m just apathetic towards the whole issue. A United Ireland is never going to happen and nor should it. In an ideal world, a United Ireland is a beautiful sentiment but it just isn’t practical. There are two main reasons why:
1) It isn’t as economically productive as the South, probably as a result of the violence but they also haven’t been as innovative as attracting foreign investment. Much like when Germany was unified, we would have to prop up the North just as West Germany supported East Germany. There would be enormous economic imbalances and it would cost a fortune to police just as it does now amongst other issues. There would be a lot of underlying tensions just as there are in Germany today that would take a long time to go away.
2) Just like the IRA got used to blowing up buildings during the troubles, you’d have some sort of paramilitary group of Unionists coming down to Dublin to start blowing up stuff. The violence would not end, there are too many people who would struggle violently to remain in the United Kingdom and the Republic does not want that problem.
Basically, it’s more trouble than it’s worth. The only benefits are a sense of unity but that would quickly vanish when the first bombing happens in a shopping centre and the budget for policing the situation shoots through the roof. Personally, I’m more of a federalist. I like the idea of a stronger and more unified Europe as a whole and become an Economic superpower to rival China and India. People don’t realise that we need strength in unity going forwards in an ever more dangerous world with dwindling resources. But a United Ireland is just an idea, it shouldn’t and won’t ever happen.
You sound like one of those patriotic ( stupid ) Americans.
Me? Quite the opposite, I don’t give a shit about nationalism. That’s the point. I see myself as European before Irish. When I go to Poland or other European countries I never feel like I’m in foreign territory.
Ah, I apologize, took that comment up wrong,
Davy Keogh says hello………………..
Wnker!
Have him arrested at once.
As a reader that lives in the US but is planning on moving to Ireland, I found it surprising to read that the flag isn’t flown in more places, especially homes.
I have an Irish flag flying on my property here in North Carolina.
Btw, I use this trick to remember if it’s right side up or not: G for green and O for orange. G comes before O in the alphabet. :)
I’m living in Florida and our Home Owners Association will not allow flags of any country to be flow from your property. Funny thing, all the HOA members are British living in England!
Right yeah. All flags are made with means of attacment on the standard side. Dur….
Fold an irish flag. 2 ppl end to end. Always keeping tight. Fold length ways in half twice. Then taking the orange corner fold repeatedly into triangles until you reach the end.if done properly you should finish with the doubled stitched end with the pleats for the rope of a flag being the only bit that is not part of the folded triangle sections.
Conor,
Thank you I stand corrected
You will have people who say you fold it as described above so the green and orange don’t touch. Not sure go true this is. It’s the way I was thought and it’s what I pass on
@ Conor just as a matter of interest where did u learn to fold the flag
Scouts :) 1 of many things I’ve learnt in it. Fantastic organisation
#scoutingireland #scoutsIE
I put mine up every Easter without fail.
Soon to be a local parish or sporting flag when the Blue and gold stars takes over. For our own good of course.
Seeing as there are 28 countries in the EU why are there only twelve stars on it? i know the answer
The gold or yellow was the preferred colour for the sectarian Irish. A blind refusal to even consider the possibility of reconciliation with our unionist brothers,.
Is Pizza Hut buffet on today, or not.
It boils my blood to see people writting on it, wearing it as an item of clothing or throwing the national flag around the pub. Cop the F on and have a little respect for it!
Darren. Totally agree.
There is a difference between the national flag and the tri colour.
The national flag is twice the length as its width.
Wouldn’t know this except for a quick thinking army officer who was asked a question when Garret Fitzgerald dropped the flag as Taoiseach!
The small flag is known as a storm flag : the smaller the flag the less chance it has of getting wrapped around the pole in stormy conditions.
We could have a plain white flag for surrender.
I always find the Canadian flag to look whimsical (in a nice way). You could never imagine some right-wing movement using a flag like that! Or angry protesters burning a flag with a leaf on it.
And don’t forget that the flag must never be allowed to hang at an angle of less than 72 degrees.. yada yada yada…
Who gives a shite really? It’s just a bit of cloth and countries are just lines on maps.
While it can be a bit of craic for things like soccer/rugby matches, nationalism is ultimately idiotic and just a tool for governments and corporations to control and exploit the masses.
I know that I’ve very little to worry about, but it drives me nuts when people hold it upside down, remember right hand green and left hand orange.
They could be from the Ivory Coast…
Bloody Ivorians coming over here and stealing our flags!
Upside down, the flag is the same! BACKWARDS makes it the Ivory Coast
Green represents gaeilge, white for peace ,orange for William orange the north!!
I’d love if people knew which way to hold the flag at any sporting event. The amount of times you will see it displayed backwards is unreal. It goes l-r green white then orange. Not that bloody hard!
I know that wrecks my head too
Like putting up an L-Plate arseways.
I heard Merkel wipes her gant with one.
With a name like Baxter I’m not surprised to see disrespect shown to our National Flag..
Are there not more important things to be discussing?
Why would I feel any need to fly the flag? I already know which country I live in, thanks. Unlike the Americans, that have to remind themselves, or something
I completely agree Sylvia. More than comfortable in my Irishness, no need to fly the flag all the time, it cheapens the value. Save it for special occasions and treat it with respect : )
Wouldn’t mind a new flag. One not based on religion even if it meant to be a flag of inspiration.
Best suggestion. Black back round with the word GUINNESS written on it..Or white back round with a picture of a pint of Guinness.Thats the only thing that unites Irish men North and South.
Jason the green represents the nationalists traditions the orange represents the unionists traditions and white represents peace between the two the orange is not a representation of the English
Also perfectly acceptable for a member of Garda Siochana to bin an Irish flag when the Queen of England visits!… (it’s on Youtube.)
What Cliff? Freemasons throwing a freemasonic flag in a bin lorry? How ironic. Actually all this green and orange stuff has been a psyop. The legitimate flag of the Irish People is the starry plough in whatever version you prefer.
Larry, new Republic, new flag, new anthem I say!… nothing but trouble since 1919.
The Defence Forces have regulations governing how ‘they’ fly the flag. This gives guidance on orientation, size, arrangement with other flags, etc, but does not extend to folding.
I recall that India largely copied our flag, as a gesture to acknowledge our early withdrawal from the ‘empire’, but can’t comment on the Ivory Coast.
I find it strange how we struggle to celebrate our spence of identity, our ‘Irishness’, notably around our flag, Patricks Day, etc; trying to stay between Hollywood and Republicanism/ nationalism’.
Interesting discussion, respect other peoples identity and cherish your own!
http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/upload/publications/1104.pdf has most of the guidelines, the military version goes into more details regarding hoisting and lowering paying respect, also includes guard of honor for colors,I’m proud of my nations flag and it’s historical past.
On the Indian flag, orange is used to represent Hinduism and the green is for Islam. The wheel is the symbol of an ancient Buddhist king. I don’t know if they were “copying” the Irish tricolour or the French. It’s a common flag design.
Up at sunrise, down at sunset, we should all fly our flag, and be proud of it I do in my garden. Every day when I’m there.
Mad to see this article I drove by superquinn in blanch tonight and was only saying now that they are changing to supervalue will they continue with the long tradition of raising and lowering the tri-colour everyday? Do all superquinns do the same with the tri-colour?
We have a protocol department??
Ok green stands for the irish people and the orange stands for english people or orange order. The white is to represent peace between the two countries. When folding the flag green will ly on one side of the white and the orange will ly on the oposite side .
have your say